Moroccan middle distance legend Hicham El Guerrouj was the surprise choice as male athlete of the year.

He beat off the challenge of new 100m record holder Tim Montgomery to win his second consecutive athlete of the year award.

For Radcliffe, the honour caps a fantastic year in which she ran the fastest-ever woman's marathon in only her second race over the distance.

The 28-year-old, who ran a time of two hours 17 minutes 18 seconds in Chicago last month, also won the London marathon when she made her debut over the distance earlier in the year.

She also laid her track championship title jinx to rest by winning the Commonwealth Games 5,000m title in Manchester in July.

She followed up that success with the European 10,000m crown in a European record time a week later.

Radcliffe beat off Montgomery's girlfriend Marion Jones and Mexico's 400m runner Ana Guevara for the prestigious award, which is voted for by a panel of athletics experts.